Alimah, torn between her love for Kaliq and her need to develop her gifts for song and dance, stays in The Land of the One River. With her Uncle Bakiri and a small band of protectors, they stay near the school where she can learn more of her arts. Enemies lurk at the school but neither she nor Bakiri can tell who they are or why Alimah is the target. At the school she and The Golden One, who comes from the far north, are dazzled by each other and both shunned by the other students, become friends. Attacked, he escapes to warn Alimah and her protectors of her danger. Still not knowing the reasons, Bakiri, The Golden One and Alimah and all their protectors seek refuge in the homes of those who breed and protect the famous war mares. They are hunted by those who wish to capture them. Thrown together by violence and constantly on the move, Alimah and Havardr witness the savage forces let loose by the Great Destruction. They come together. At the end of the late bronze age, where the world that they knew is being destroyed, these two lovers must make hard choices between the desires of their hearts and the duties that they owe to their own kin. If they part, as it seems they must, they will never hold each other again. But, unseen by others, deep in their hearts the memories will endure.